herr fikus won't fit

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>I acquired a black 1947 useable 9cm f4 elmar. Also managed to get a fikus type hood for it, but this will not fit. the lens rim consists of a hard brass ring which seems slightly to big. The 5cm elmar hood which is a fraction wider than the fikus doesn't make it either. Not keen on forcing things or using lubricants. Lens rim does not look damaged or bent in any way. Back to my cardboard homemade hood?</p>

<p> </p>

[mpo]

<p>he he he... that's a "fat" Elmar !<br>

(not really, those were made in 1930-31)</p>

[mukul_dube]

<p>Maybe the hood is not a FIKUS but "a fikus type" whose dimensions are different?</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>MICHAEL: Box says: Gegenlichtblende fur elmar 5 und 9 cm; hektor 13,5 cm FIKUS; as good as unused.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>...red box marked LEITZ Germany; fully original seemingly; hood is marked elmar 5, 9 13,5 cm...</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Maybe tape up the lens barrel, leave the brass rim exposed; then sand down the ring a little?</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Don't force it - get the right part(s).</p>

<p>Otherwise, you run the risk of being haunted by Oskar Barnack's ghost. You don't want to chance that.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>Measure the outside dimension of the front of the lens, in millimeters, carefully, and report back. Maybe also post a picture of the front of the lens.<br>

Perhaps the spring rings inside the hoods aren't opening all the way when you release the clamp screw?</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>For example, the outside of the front of my 90/4 Elmar is 36.0mm, measured to the nearest tenth of a millimeter with a vernier caliper. <br>

Even with the clamp screw loose, the FIKUS is a bit of a tight fit. It may be necessary to remove the spring ring (two small screws), and bend it out a little larger, and reassemble. But those screws may blow out when you try and remove them.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>JDM Would be an honour to meet with Barnack; start filing right away!</p>

<p>JOHN Mine measures 36,2; fikus slips effortlessly over 5cm and 3,5cm...<br>

I'll try to undo the screws when all else fails</p>

[exabetal]

The FIKUS may be slightly bent. It happened to me. Taken it apart and carefully bending it back to circular helped.

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Mine looks like it has (almost) never been used; when I fit it on the 5cm and 3,5cm elmars there is nothing that indicates it being bent ; still trying out John's idea (loosening the screws)</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Measured the fikus on the inside: just a fraction over 36 all around; starting to think the brass edge/rim of the lens got somehow 'bent' 2/10th of mm on one spot...</p>

[steve_mareno1]

<p>I would say yes, back to the cardboard hood, and you should be glad of it. I've had a few FIKUS hoods, and hated them each and every one. While I appreciate the idea behind it, they're too heavy, too long, and tend to fall off the camera unless you really cinch them down. Much better to go for one of those older push-on, series adapters that will let you use drop in filters and a nice, LIGHT, small hood. Your lens will do fine w/ that.</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>I have a Fickus that I put on an Intrustrar 50/3.5. Surprised that Leitz chose this moniker. You'll know why if you know German.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>I wish I didn't know German! Incidentally you mean Industar? Neat little glass. The people's imitation of an elmar I presume?</p>

[Robert_Lai]

<p>Have you checked the front of your lens for a filter thread?</p>

<p> My 90 f/4 pre-war Elmar has a 34mm filter thread. It was easy to purchase a 34mm hood from a seller in the UK (on ebay) which screws on perfectly. Modern 34mm filters (B+W) also fit.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>ROBERT: Yes you're right...I never noticed, just took it for granted that with a slip on as 'prescribed' leica hood there wouldn't be a thread...what does your hood look like? Straight cylinder seems to be the most effective against flare. Yours is probably not coated? Mine has early coating (1947) most of which I think has vanished in the past 65 odd years; purple tint.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Apparently the earlier FIKUS had a brass slip on section; later ones were made of stainless steel. Mine is the later type; maybe the difference in material explains why an almost unused sample like mine does not fit...</p>

[john_robison3]

<p>My 1951 Elmar 90 bought last year has the 34mm filter thread. I had a Tiffen F34 to series 5 adapter in my "Box-of-Photo-Junk-I-Might-Need-Some-Day" and can use a neat little series 5 hood and drop in filters.</p>

<p>Did you also know the Elmar 90 lens head will screw into a series 5 thread? Not perfectly but it does seat square. I've adapted mine to fit the front of a little Kopel bellows for an Olympus Pen F, from infinity to 1:1, not very bright but useable. </p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>John: Thanks for the tiffen tip; time to scratch around in my mixed goodies box. Wish I could do something similar with my super angulon too.</p>

[Robert_Lai]

<p>Hello Jean-Marie,<br>

It's been a while since I examined this thread, but the hood I got is a straight cylinder. It is very slim, in keeping with the slim nature of the lens. I put an inexpensive plastic 34mm lens cap (pinch release style) on the end of the hood. The actual hood itself is made in Japan.</p>

<p>I think the name of the seller in the UK was "JacktheHat". I have no affiliation with them, aside from having been a customer. I see that they are still selling the same hood on ebay.</p>

[jean_marie_dederen]

<p>Thanks Robert, looks like there are ample ersatz hoods for Herr Fikus!</p>